Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-03-31

'.They lied to me who said that your
beauty was born Of the cosmetics of the
stage and the glow of the footlights.
NY t,ir hcro-how well some woman
will love You long after l am dust and
ashes! Conc closer. Baretti-sit near
me-there. where the light falls fullest.
l would look upon You while yet may
do so. And l have something to tell
you, and though the tale is not a long
one, have little time in which to tell
it"
II am here to do your bidding. Prin-
cess" he answered, as he seated him
self in the place she indicated.
"You have seen me ut the theatcr,
Cola. and Doubtless know who am
the Princess Sophia Orlanoff. the richest
heiress in Russia, and the shame and
burden of the powerful family to which
belong, by reason of my bodily in
frmities. By my fathers death /. a
deformed cripple. came into the pos
session of the hereditary estates of our
race. My uncle, Prince Michael. has
long conceived the plan of retaining
my wealth in the family by uniting me
in marriage to his son Paul. To this
project 1 have ever returned per-
sistent refusal; declared that never
meant to marry; and at last. satisfied
with that assurance. my relatives left
me to pursue my own course of life in
peace. And can you guess the sequel?
Cola Baretti, l love you'll have loved
you from the moment that first looked
upon your face. And l dare to tell you
this without faltering and without
blush, for am dying?'
"Dying!' He echoed her last word
in amazement. There were no traces
of departing vitality in her clear. un-
faltering tones.
Il saw you first as Claudius six
weeks ago. I have lived since then in
Il dream Of poetry and hero;sm and
self-sacrifice. And out of that dream
came another and a higher vision. I
resolved to give my hand to the man /
loved. IwOuld have made you rich
and powerful, Cola, content to linger
out my life in its old. peaceful way,
with the glad thought that had show
cred blessings on the head of him /
loved. But it was not to be. This
project once formed within my mind, ]
resolved to lose no time in putting it
into execution. l sent for my uncle,
and impaired to him my intentions.
He heard me in silcnce-it is an evil
omen when an Orlanoff listens without
speaking to displeasing tidings. The
next day he came to me to tell me that
he had proofs of your completely in the
Nihilist conspiracy in which your most
intimate friend was implicated. and
that through his intimacy with the
chief of police he had to pronounce but
one word to cause you to disappear from
the face of the earth for ever"
1.-The charge is false, Princess;
knew nothing of my poor friends de-
signs
There was letter in your hand
writing found amongst the papers of
Nikalaicff; what it contained do not
know. But this much know, that he
who by so much as the tip of one finger
is caught in the terrible machinery of
Our police system is irretrievably con-
demned. In y few, brief, decisive
wo.ds. Prince Michael told me what
your fate was TO be, and then he left
ne to my despair. For knew that
lou were Lost, Cola, aud that Your
doom was sealed unless, indeed. 1
could save you. For little time l
could think of nothing but of my an
guish and my terror. Then sudden
resolve took possession of my soul. l
summoned M uncle to my presence
Oace more. and offered, as the price
of yorr freedom and your life, to re-
move the only obstacle that stood be-
tween him and my great wealth-my-
self. would die and make no sign;
and my only conditions were, that my
end should be painless. and that l
should he permitted to summon you
here and to place in your possession
with my own hands the papers that in
sured your safety-the compromising
letter and your passport. An hour ago
he brought me yonder packet and a
glass of old TOkay. drank the wine,
and then he left ME. saying:
"'You can send for your actor when
you please only do not delay too
long"
AstOn;shment and horror had up to
this time kept Baretti silent, but at
these words he sprang to his feet.
This must not be-" he cried.
"Help!-let me summon hclp?"
But tie Princess hand. cold as ice
and finn. az steel, crushed back the |
words upoL his lips.
"Silence!" she whispered in ac-
cents hOarse with terror. "Not cry! |
not sound! We stand beneath an
avalanche; word might call down |
upon your head the swooping doom!
There are eyes that watch us. ears that |
hcarken to our words. Besides, for me |
it is too late. All, Cola! Cola! do not |